So What is the deal with wrapping pipes?

[jmbo]

Troll's right.  Wrapping pipes is an old race car trick that dates back to road racers from the teens.  I guess it's OK on a rat bike.  That is if you like rat bikes.  Personally I don't mind them...as long as they are in someone else's garage.

[49Reo]

I didn't say it wouldn't hide bad chrome, I said the idea is about heat control...People do lots of things for the wrong reasons.....maybe they thought it was the latest fad in cafe' land, or bobberland, or where ever....To each his own, but I did it for heat control and to get that last little bit of power....11.91 sec/115.7 mph-'78 shovelhead.

Pretty good 1/4 mile times; slightly better than I got with my '72 Pontiac, 350/350, 300hp, not as fast as your shovel, but close; low 12's, can't remember the details.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[Troll]

Here's the only pic. I can fine with my shovel and exhaust wrap. The TourGlide is in the picture, too I sold both of these in '09. The SuperGlide had 254,000 miles on it and the TourGlide had 200,000

[Troll]

I didn't say it wouldn't hide bad chrome, I said the idea is about heat control...People do lots of things for the wrong reasons.....maybe they thought it was the latest fad in cafe' land, or bobberland, or where ever....To each his own, but I did it for heat control and to get that last little bit of power....11.91 sec/115.7 mph-'78 shovelhead.

[49Reo]

The idea of wrapping the pipes is actually not to hide bad chrome,

....tell that to the guys who wrap their head pipes because they look like crap and can't afford new ones.

49Reo

[chief]

Wrapping is for two reasons... looks and heat.

Personally, on the right bike, wrapping looks fantastic to me.

[45 Bravo]

Personally, it is not my favorite look either, but to each his own, and i won't disparage someones bike that has it on there.

I just was wondering what the real purpose was (thanks Troll for the answer)

I actually see nothing wrong with a set of pipes turning blue from the heat & years of use, it is like all of us older things {a little patina looks good)

thanks guys.

45 Bravo

[Troll]

The idea of wrapping the pipes is actually not to hide bad chrome, but to keep heat INSIDE the pipe to improve exhaust gas flow rates.  Hot pipes and hot gasses flow faster, therefore better scavenging, than pipes that bleed off a lot of heat to the outside air. It's an old hotrodder's trick to improve headers on V-8 engines. It works, I guess, but the wrap doesn't last long. It's not duct tape, but a high temp fiberglass wrap designed for the job.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/Department/Exhaust/Section/Heat-Protection/Part-Type/Exhaust-Wrap/?Ns=Rank|Asc&autoview=SKU&gclid=CMW36vqFkLICFacWMgodjEsAgg
I did it on my H-D drag bike, but it would burn off after a few runs, and sure did stink when it was new!

[49Reo]

I am not fond of it either; however, I have seen it used for heat shielding, as a way to cover pipes that are in poor shape( chrome in bad shape, etc). I know a fellow that builds exhaust out of stainless steel tubing, does beautiful work, fantastic welds, but covers them with heat wrap as a cheaper alternative to custom building heat shields. But, like all bike (and vehicle) mods, to each their own. I will not pass judgment on anybody else's bike; if they like it or it is what they can afford, so be it. I expect there are things on my bikes that don't meet the approval or look right to others, but too bad; it is mine, if they don't like it, look the other way.

Regards and such,
49Reo

[CDNRatMan]

   once more we have a good question and I like yourself don't know.

Personally I do not like them , they look like crap to me. Almost like the guy can not afford a decent set of pipes and he has wrapped tape around it from watching too many Red & Green Shows and is in love with Duct tape.But then we all have our own tastes and opinions and my taste and my opinon say I don't think it looks good or cool in the least.

[45 Bravo]

I have seen this more and more lately.
Wrapping pipes in some kind of material
This was posted on this site today with a real nice old school Triton, but with the wrap also.

Is it just to act as a heat shield?

What ever happened to just staying away from the hot parts, like we did in the old days?

I mean Honda made the 50cc with a totally enclosed chain guard (marketed toward teens/adults)
(Note: the super cub is still in production and is being sold throughout the world today)

Then Honda also made the 50cc (marketed during about the same time frame) marketed toward Kids with the OPEN chain guard.

(I guess adults didn't know enough in the 60's & 70's to keep their fingers away from the pretty spinning parts)

45 Bravo